Boehner Calls ENDA 'Unnecessary'

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on Thursday called the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Senate-passed legislation extending workplace protections to LGBT people, "unnecessary," and as such would lead to "frivolous lawsuits."

"I am opposed to discrimination of any kind in the work place and any place else," Boehner told reporters on Capitol Hill. "But I think this legislation that I've dealt with as chairman of the Educational Workforce Committee long before I was back into leadership, is unnecessary and would provide a basis for frivolous lawsuits.

"It, people are already protected in the work place," he added. "So I am, I'm opposed to continuing this. Listen, I understand people have different opinions on this issue and I respect those opinions but it is someone who worked in this employment law area for all of my years in the statehouse and all of my years here, I see no basis or no need for this."